Launch of the "2021 State of Climate Services" Report
by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
05/10/2021
Launch of the "2021 State of Climate Services" Report
Address
By
Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
5 October 2021
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,
1. Water-related extreme weather events and water-scarce conditions increasingly threaten countries and ecosystems worldwide.
2. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed vulnerabilities – especially of rural communities.
3. Staple food production in many agri-food based countries remains largely rain-fed, and fragile against fluctuations from weather and climate variability.
4. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that high or very high-water shortage or scarcity currently impacts around 3.2 billion rural people.
5. With one-sixth of the world’s population living in severely water-constrained agricultural areas.
6. Around 171 million hectares – that is over 60 percent of irrigated croplands - are subject to high water stress.
7. I was born to a rice-growing family in rural South China, and held government positions in a country that shares 9% of global cultivated lands with 19% population of the world.
8. I am therefore fully aware of the negative impacts that water scarcity and flooding have on the food security of rural livelihoods.
9. As well as of the importance of effective water management approaches to adapt agri-food systems to extreme hydro-climatological events.
10. Today’s report makes clear recommendations to improve the implementation and effectiveness of climate services for water worldwide.
11. Furthermore, the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change stresses the need to act now! And together!
12. Climate services which benefit adaptation in agri-food sectors need to be operationalized, scaled up, and supported by adequate financing.
13. We need more accurate and timely information services for effective decision-making,
14. And appropriate investments to build more resilient agri-food and other water-dependent systems.
15. To enhance the performance of water systems in the face of the climate crisis, we need integrated approaches across three levels:
• One: technical and management;
• Two: policy, institutional and legal; and
• Three: increased investments.
16. We also need to fill capacity and knowledge gaps on climate services in the water sector,
17. And invest in Integrated Resources Water Management, especially in Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries.
Ladies and gentlemen,
18. The sustainable management of water resources is a driving principle of FAO.
19. Food security can only be achieved with water security.
20. FAO’s new Strategic Framework 2022-2031 reflects our commitment to strengthen the contribution of agri-food systems to reducing the impacts of the climate crisis.
21. For better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.
22. Proactive actions are urgently needed to improve the quality of life and livelihoods.
23. FAO is scaling up early warning systems for early action to advance knowledge and promote innovation.
24. Moving from risk mitigation to transformative change through improved water management.
25. One of these innovations is FAO’s WaPOR programme that monitors crop production and crop water use by satellite remote sensing.
26. As custodian agency for indicators 6.4.1 on water use efficiency and 6.4.2 on water stress,
27. FAO’s joint work with the WMO in the framework of the UN-Water Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6 provides high-quality data for evidence-based policymaking, regulations, planning, decisions and investments at all levels.
28. FAO stands ready to strengthen its work with the WMO, and other partners, to increase the resilience of rural communities for water security and food security in the future.
29. Thank you